BRIDGENORTH coach Michael Bowden is happy with the Parrots' list as they prepare to kick-off their 2015 NTFA division 1 season against Longford tomorrow.

Bowden said he believed that the Parrots should be on a par with last season if not stronger with a more potent forward line.

"We've picked up a few young blokes from around the area and just added a bit of depth to our list and haven't really lost too much," Bowden said.

"Josh Murfett who will be hard to replace but we've built up in a couple or areas with who we've picked up.

"Josh Chugg kicked 90-odd goals a couple of seasons ago and will be a welcome addition and he will be my playing assistant coach."

Bowden said Bridgenorth aimed to make finals again this season and should have a full list to choose from this week.

LONGFORD coach Ben Chugg said the Tigers would be without Kaleb Laycock and Jackson Blair this week but were looking forward to the challenge of playing Bridgenorth in what he said would be a good first-up test.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to take on the coaching role at a club I've always played with and loved," Chugg said.

"We didn't have a lot we had to change but we've built our fitness program and we are hoping to improve this season and we're playing to win.

"We see South, Deloraine and Bridgenorth, the top three from last year, as the teams we need to chase but we aren't putting a ceiling on what we can do - our immediate goals are based around things like effort, teamwork and discipline."

GEORGE TOWN V DELORAINE

GEORGE TOWN will be relying heavily again on local talent as it attempts to climb the ladder this season.

Coach Alan Perrin said the Saints recruits had added some strength and depth to the list and the kids they played last year were a year older and hungrier.

While losing some midfield players "has put a big hole in us I think the enthusiasm in the group is a strength and we have only one player in our group who is based in Launceston", Perrin said.

"We think we are going to be strong enough to get into finals and we have tried to build our forward line to kick enough goals for us to win games."

Perrin said Deloraine would be a tough opposition as a grand finalist last year who had recruited well but expected his side to be competitive at home.

DELORAINE have lost some talent but gained some good recruits and coach Rory Mansell said the club's improvement would have to come from their focus on developing their young, local players.

"How we will go is the great unknown but a lot of our boys are a lot further ahead in their progression compared to last year and know the expectations and style of footy we want to play," Mansell said.

"We've lost some top-end talent in Tom Larby, Ryland Coombe and Shaun James but some of our recruits in Tyson Gardam, Rulla Kelly-Mansell, Matthew O'Donoghue and Shannon Buller will be handy inclusions.

"We feel we have covered and even improved from where we were last year."

ROCHERLEA V BRACKNELL

NEW ROCHERLEA coach Lyndon Stubbs believes his club is in a stronger position than last year and was happy with where his side was sitting as it prepares for round 1 against Bracknell.

"I've enjoyed the change taking on the coaching job and I'd like to think the guys have enjoyed some different stuff at training so it's really positive," Stubbs said.

He said the suburban Tigers should improve on their fifth spot from last season and aimed to be consistently more competitive across more games after being up and down last year.

"We've changed a few things to suit the new personnel we've got but nothing major.

"I don't know what to expect from Bracknell but hopefully they have a strong team on the park and it's a good game of footy."

BRACKNELL also has a new coach in former Launceston premiership player Gary Shipton.

Shipton said the pre-season had been hard but good for the club in his first year in charge and expected his charges to be in good shape for round 1.

The Redlegs have recruited well and Shipton said they were aiming for finals after an injection of about 15 players to the senior group.

He expected a red-hot contest first up against Rocherlea.

HILLWOOD V SCOTTSDALE

HILLWOOD takes on Scottsdale and new coach Ryan Worn said the Sharks were in a rebuilding phase after losing 19 players from last year.

Worn said they had recruited well to cover those losses and were looking to build a successful team over the next two to three years.

"I've got some recruits from Victoria that I won a premiership with which helps and the club has been supportive," Worn said.

He said it would take a while for new players to gel but hoped to push the Magpies and get a win first up.

SCOTTSDALE has a new coach in Heath Fox and has recruited strongly with the aim to be competitive and improve on last year's ladder position.

SOUTH LAUNCESTON has a bye in the first round and premiership coach Aaron Viney said the Bulldogs had lost some experience in Laine Cleaver and Scott Towns but had replaced that with recruits such as Beau Green and Jarrod Price.

Viney said they would miss Stephen Heppell's height up forward but would shuffle the line-up to compensate.

"The other sides will be gunning for us after last year but as long as we improve and if we play our best footy we will be competitive."